Michelle Obama invites Fontana Mayor Acquanetta Warren to D.C.

FONTANA -- Mayor Acquanetta Warren soon will be visiting Washington at the request of first lady Michelle Obama.

Warren received an invitation from the first lady to celebrate Fontana's role in the Let's Move! Cities, Towns and Counties initiative.

The initiative is dedicated to solving the country's childhood obesity epidemic within a generation, so that children born today will grow up healthier.

The call to action for mayors and other local elected officials was launched in June 2010. In response, hundreds of local elected officials took steps to prevent childhood obesity to make their communities healthier for everyone.

Warren is spearheading the movement in Fontana.

"I am honored to receive an invitation from the first lady," Warren said in statement on the city's website. "Childhood obesity has been a great concern of mine for many years and is why I started the Healthy Fontana Program."

Warren, a former councilwoman who was elected mayor in 2010, added that she is proud to have recognition from a national program that understands the need to work together for families' futures.

Along with the celebratory event with the first lady, Warren received a special invitation from the National League of Cities to participate in a group discussion with 20 other local elected officials.

The meeting will be an opportunity for the League of Cities and their federal partner, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to hear feedback on how the Let's Move! Cities, Towns and Counties initiative is going.

Warren is leading a "Walk with the Mayor" at 7 a.m. Friday. The community is invited to meet her at the Lewis Library and Technology Center, 8437 Sierra Ave., to discuss Fontana and getting active.